Improvement in steam-heaters for railroad cars



CHARLES A. MABIE, T. H. WHITCGMB & J. T. BROWN.

Steam H'eaters for Railroad Gars..

i 910.122.326, i Patentdlan.21872.

CHARLES A. MABIE, TRMAN H. WHITOOMB, ANDJOHN T. BROWN, OF ALBION, Y i

A'rEN'I OFFICE.

NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-HEATERS FOR RAILROAD CARS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,326, dated v'J anuary 2, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

We, CHARLES A. MARIE, TRUI/IAN H. WHIT- coMn, and JOHN T. BROWN, of Albion, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Heating Gars by Steam, ofwhich the following' is a specification:

Nature' and Objects of the Invention. ,The first part of our invention relates to the combination of suitable radiating pipes and a main or feeding-pipe, in such a lmanner that the supply of steam to the radiating pipes may be regulated by means of a stop-cock, which is operated from the inside ofthe car by a lever working in `front of a graduated dial. The second part of our invention relates to the combination,with the main pipe, ofa coupling which shall be capable of being quickly coupled, and at the same time it is so constructed as to become uncoupled in case of an accidental separation of the cars. VThis coupling' is provided with valves which close automatically on the separation of the coupling. It is also provided .with a steam-trap, which allows the water to escape that might otherwise accumulate in the sag in the pipe between the cars.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing. Figure lis a longitudinal elevation of a portion of a car. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe pipes. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the coupling. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the coup lingl taken on the line .n x in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is tia side elevation of the coupling.

General Description.

iixed to the plug ofthe stop-cock and entending to the side of the car, where it is provided with the lever c. F is a-lever, placed in iront of the dial b and connected with the lever. a by the rod c. G is the coupling, which is provided with the-straps d @which swing on the posts e e, placed in the part of the coupling designated by P. A forked lever, f, is .connected with the straps d d by means of a joint at g. h h are posts in the part H over which the short ends ofthe forked lever hooks. I is a spring-catch, which is placed in such a position as to be capable of retaining the lever f when it is pressed down. t' is a chain, connected with the top of the catch I at one end, while the other end is fastened to the car. J J are valves having-the guides j' j, and seats at R R; and the projecting stems l l m on are springs placed between the valves J J and the guides j 7. Lis a steam-trap, which surrounds the coupling' and permits ofthe escape of water which may accumulate in the sag in the pipe through the aperture n. The coupling Gr is placed midway between the cars in the main pipe, which for a short distance each side of the coupling' is made of some elastic material, or is jointed so as 'to allow the cars to separate and come together within certain limits.

When the coupling is made fast, (which is done by hooking the lever f over the post h h and bringing the long end of `it under the catch I,) the stems of the valves J J meet and force them oft' their seats, making a free passage through the entire length of the main pipe.

VOn a separation of the cars, the chain i being a little shorter than the elastic pipe, sufficient force is exerted on the catch l to release the lever j' and uncouple the pipe. As the coupling is separated the valves J J are allowed to come down to their seats, preventing the escape of steam. p y 1 b is a dial, which is graduated and marked for heat and cold.

' Claims.

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination of pipes B B B, &c., Y

3. The combination of the steam-trap L with y the coupling G, substantially as and for the the whole of a. train, substantially as and for purpose hereinbefore set forth. the purpose hereinbefore sei:A forth. l

4. The combination of the valves J J with Signed by us this 27th day of October, 1871. the part-s P and H of the coupling G, substan- CHARLES A. MABIE. tially as and for Jche purpose hereinbefore set TRUMAN H. WHITCOMB. forth. JOHN T. BROWN.

5. The feeding-pipe A, in combination with Witnesses: the above devices, When 'used to convey steam EUGENE T. HILL,

Vfrom the locomotive-boiler through a part or MARCUS L. REYNOLDS. (154) 

